A GOLDEN eagle has been spotted in Wales – around 400 years after the country’s indigenous population of the rare bird died out.

The huge bird of prey was photographed by local birdwatchers in the Ceredigion village of Pontrhydygroes.

One of them, Gareth James, said: “Shortly after the most severe of the northerly gales, I saw a very large bird of prey wafting up the valley in Mid Wales.

“Grabbing my new camera, I took the best pictures I could as it perched in a pine tree then, once disturbed by a trio of red kites, it exited back down the valley.”

The RSPB said the bird, which is now seen mostly in Scotland, could have escaped from captivity or might have lost its way south of the border.

BBC wildlife presenter, Iolo Williams, who is a regular on Springwatch and Autumnwatch, said the golden eagle used to be a common sight in Wales 400 years ago until its numbers were decimated by hunting.

“Such a magnificent bird is only seen every 30 years or so in Wales now; it is a rare sight,” he said.

“Very occasionally, young eagles from Scotland seeking out new territory could come down as far as Wales.

“But they have been heavily persecuted in Scotland too, where there are only about 450 pairs left.

“I’ve seen them there many times and they are huge and magnificent. We have ospreys in Porthmadog, but a golden eagle would dwarf them completely.”

He said in England there is just one pair of golden eagles left and they are living in the Lake District.

“But there have not been any living in Wales for 400 years or so because they were so heavily persecuted,” he said.

“In centuries gone by, any large bird was frowned upon because they could take whole lambs.

“But eagles are more likely to feed on mountain hares and deer carrion now.”

Reg Thorpe, of RSPB Cymru, said that the elusive juvenile bird has probably been in Mid Wales for a few years.

“It probably originates from a local person who keeps or has kept golden eagles very close to the original sightings in the Nant Irfon valley, which is only a short distance from where it is currently being seen,” he said.

“Based on its plumage, it is certainly at least four years old and it has leg rings associated with captive origins.”

He said there have been no accepted wild golden eagles records in Wales since 1990.

“What is really interesting about this current captive-origin bird, is that it shows that eagles can survive in Wales as it has been around for at least three years – even during spells of bad weather,” he said.